Coffee Fest Seattle 2012 drips on the Hill

- The Capitol Hill Times -

DJ Brower (right) goes head-to-head with Brandon Weaver, whose team with Nik Virrey, called  Matte&Gloss, reigned supreme. Stephen Miller / The Capitol Hill Times

Stroll down Pike Street any day of the week and you’re bound to find someone getting excited about a cup of coffee. Finding a group of people wrapped in toy guns and Lebowski ponchos while double fisting a latte and beer beneath a continuously projected loop of funny cat videos only happens once in a while. This time there was a reason.

As Coffee Fest Seattle 2012 was percolating away in the frothy Washington State Convention Center, Victrola Coffee’s Pike Street knock box was roasting a blend of local barista pairings for a steamy latte art competition to sort the crema of the local pullers from the rest of the pulp (I swear I’m done).

Saturday evening’s throw down pitted teams of two baristas against each other through three rounds of nail-biting action that involved blindfolded pouring and the aptly named “Two baristas, one cup.” The night also featured local beer, a DJ and prizes from Espresso Supply, La Marzocco, and Barista Magazine.

Team Matte&Gloss, a partnership of Brandon Weaver and Nik Virrey, won the night.